"Why are there so many?" Regina complained, staring at all the bills scattered on the table in front of her.
"Regina, why is your brow furrowed so deeply, like a grandmother?" asked Asher, who was standing in the doorway, dressed and smelling good.
"Look at this!" Regina said sharply. "Your mother's, Olivia's, and Janus's credit card bills, why are they all sent here? Am I the one who has to pay for them? The bills from the boutique, the bills from the club, the bills from restaurants and cafes. Oh my!"
"I don't have much money on me right now," Asher said, straightening his shirt. "So please just pay them all first so they won't be terrorized by debt collectors."
Regina was flabbergasted by Asher's answer and only then noticed his unusual appearance.
"Why are you dressed so neatly? And did you use your perfume to bathe? The smell won't even go away for a week," Regina said irritably.
"I'm going to meet up with my middle school friend," Asher said. "Who knows, maybe that meeting will be good news for me."
"Honey, it's my day off and you're going out?" Regina asked, confused. "Why don't you just stay home and help me clean the house? Look how tall the grass is in the yard."
"Oh come on, baby, don't we have a gardener and a housekeeper? Why do we have to do everything ourselves? We pay them a pretty penny, right?" Asher said lightly.
Regina laughed sarcastically. "It's precisely because it's expensive and I can't afford it that I fired them all. So please help me clean everything up."
Asher looked surprised. "Since when?"
"Since you became unemployed and left all our family affairs and yours to me!" Regina said sharply.
Asher's face darkened. "Don't be so sarcastic with me, Regina. You act as if my family have been bothering you for a long time."
"Do you realize, even though it's only been a few months since I've had to fully take care of your family, but actually, since we got married, you've never given me anything. All your money is only for your family and for our family alone, the two of us, in fact you're actually relying on my salary. Have you ever thought about that? You never even bought me a burger on the street after payday, but always took your family to eat at a restaurant in a five-star hotel every month, without inviting me."
Asher glared at Regina and quickly reached out.
SLAP!!!
Regina held her cheek, which felt hot from Asher's palm.
"You shouldn't say things like that to your husband, Regina!" Asher said in a low voice. "I wasn't the one who forced you to get married quickly, but now you're insulting me?"
"I'm not insulting," Regina said, her voice trembling. "I'm just stating the facts. I don't mind helping you with anything, but shouldn't you?"
Asher snickered. "You're really just jealous, because your social circle is limited to friends at that small orphanage, right? And I heard most of them have already left somewhere. Come on, Regina, don't compare me to you. Even when I'm in trouble, there are still many people who are enthusiastic about seeing me."
Regina was speechless. It had been almost five months since Asher quit his job, and he hadn't done anything, but his attitude was getting more and more annoying.
Not to mention her family. Her mother and two younger siblings were completely unaffected by Asher's unemployment, because Asher had so easily shifted the responsibility of supporting them to Regina.
And now Regina realized that Asher's salary when he was working must have been substantial, because he always managed to meet their needs and wants without complaint.
But she, his wife, never even knew how much he earned, let alone held a single penny he gave her.
"You don't need to bring up my orphanage, Asher," Regina said angrily. "It has nothing to do with our current affairs. Stop changing the subject!"
Asher was truly furious now and was ready to strike again, but suddenly Magie burst into the dining room with a thump.
"Mom?" Asher called. "What's wrong? You're here so early?"
"I wanted to ask Regina," Magie said with a sour expression. "Why haven't you transferred my monthly allowance yet? I have so many things to pay, and they're due today."
Regina pointed to a stack of bills on the table. "I have to pay all these bills, and these aren't even my expenses. How can I give you any more money?"
"Gosh, Regina, stop making an excuse!" Magie snapped, banging the table. "I know you have savings. Why don't you just use them? How do you think I'm supposed to pay for things and buy things if you're like this, so calculating?"
Regina turned to Arshen, who seemed unconcerned and was now putting on his shoes.
"Arshen?" Regina reprimanded in a low voice.
Arshen raised an eyebrow flatly. "Transfer it to my mother immediately, Regina, don't be so stingy. You have quite a lot of savings, right?"
"I'm saving it for our child," Regina hissed, distraught.
Magie sneered. "A child? It's been almost five years and you haven't even missed a single period, and now you're talking about a child? Are you still asleep and dreaming, Regina?"
"Instead of talking about nothing, you'd be better off giving the money to my mother!" Arshen said coldly.
Regina's heart had hardened from hearing such sarcasm and ridicule too often.
She picked up her phone and transferred some money to Magie's account.
"Don't forget Olivia and Janus's needs too," Magie said. "Just transfer it all at once for a month, so we don't have to bother asking for it again later."
Asher kissed Magie's cheek while Regina was transferring more money to Olivia and Janus. He ignored Regina completely and walked straight to the door, Magie following behind him.
"Regina's cheek is swollen. Did you hit her?" Magie asked Asher as her son pulled the car out of the garage.
"I only slapped her because she said something that offended me," Asher replied. "I'll apologize to her when I get home, Mom."
"No need," Magie snapped. "She deserved it. She needs to learn some restraint once in a while. It's a good thing you still want her as her husband, and you're trying to fight back!"
"She's upset about having to spend money to pay the bills," Asher said.
"That's her job as a wife, not just to be pampered and treated like a mistress. Besides, she hasn't been able to give you what you want most," Magie said boredly. "I'm pretty sure now that she's infertile, Asher."
Asher laughed softly and leaned toward Magie, whispering something.
Magie's eyes widened and she nodded happily, then they high-fived.
Behind the door, Regina heard and saw the entire scene in the yard, her hands clenched until her knuckles turned white.
Just as Asher got into the car and started the engine, the gate suddenly opened and three men entered.
"Mom!" Janus shouted, but he was held by the men on either side of him: a police officer and a businessman. They restrained him.
Asher turned off the car and got out, while Magie rushed anxiously toward her youngest son. Regina, however, decided against getting in and got out to approach them.
"What's wrong, officer?" Asher asked. He pointed at Janus. "Why are you arresting my brother?"
"Are you Mr. Asher Jeremy?" the officer asked. "Mr. Janus Jeremy's brother?"
"Yes, I'm his older brother," Asher replied impatiently.
"Mr. Janus hit Mr. Parker's car and he has to pay for the repairs, but he tries to run away, so we have to hold your responsible or we'll take legal action against Mr. Janus," the officer said firmly.
Asher stared at Janus for a moment, then pointed to his hands, which were being held by the two men at his sides.
"Let go of my brother. You have no right to treat him so harshly," Asher said angrily. "I'll pay for your car repairs!"
When the officer and Mr. Parker released Janus, he immediately ran into Magie's arms, who rubbed his back worriedly.
The officer gave Asher a cold look. "You should come with me to the police station now so we can-"
"No need," Asher interrupted quickly. "Let's settle this here. How much did your car repairs cost, Mr. Parker? My wife will transfer the money to you right now."
Regina, who was behind Asher, was shocked and pointed to her chest.
"ME?"
